402 Ave. E decision shrinks developer's plans SNOHOMISH - The conditional use permit to convert 402 and 410 Ave. E into an assisted living facility was approved late last month by the city hearing examiner, but with conditions that shrink the project.
The applicant, developer Christopher Koh, wanted to build a 25-bed senior assisted living facility, but city hearing examiner Ted Hunter only allowed nine beds, among 15 other conditions, in his decision. The facility cannot be age-restricted.
The decision is final unless it’s appealed or Hunter otherwise modifies it.
Hunter’s conditions include requiring 13 parking spaces for the development and compliance with all parking lot standards prior to the project receiving any building permits.
It was “a robust public process,” city planning director Owen Dennison said. “The city’s role as a judicator for land use permits ... is not to take sides as much to establish that proposals are approved per standards.”
There are two opportunities to reopen the topic, but those are in September and March 2015. Reopening the record means someone who’s already part of the record can ask the hearing examiner to consider additional conditions to address or mitigate specific impacts to the surrounding neighborhood.
The project was granted one kitchen and one dining area, but the limitation does not restrict residents from taking meals in their rooms. Koh and lead architect Josh Scott of Craft, L.L.C. also have to restore the historical part of the structure while keeping with the city’s historic district standards.
Hunter mandated that Koh must meet these conditions and make substantial progress on the project within one year.
The site has to open its doors by mid-March 2017 or the conditional use permit will become void.
The next steps for developing these properties are to obtain permits.
“We have confidence in our hearing examiner and his proficiency in making decisions and his sensitivity to community concerns,” Dennison said. “We are pleased with the process.”
The structure was a nursing home from 1985 to 1990, and became a day care facility from 1990 to 2000. It’s in disrepair as it stands now.
The hearing examiner’s decision in full is online at this link .